About Donald
Donald Petersen trained as both a business professional and a lawyer. He earned a Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Central Florida in 1980, followed by an M.B.A. in finance from Rollins College in 1984. He completed his legal education at Duke University School of Law, receiving a J.D. in 1985. Those credentials gave him a mix of business and legal tools early in his career.
After law school Petersen entered private practice and built a litigation career that spans trial and appellate work. He is admitted to practice in Florida and before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the Middle District of Florida, the Eleventh Circuit and the Sixth Circuit. That range has allowed him to appear in both state and federal forums and to handle matters at several procedural levels.
Petersen’s courtroom experience includes federal trial dockets and appellate panels. He has taken cases through different stages of litigation, from motions practice to appeals. His business background often comes into play in disputes that raise financial or commercial issues. He approaches such matters with attention to both legal doctrine and the underlying economic facts.
Outside the courtroom, Petersen has participated in professional organizations. He has been a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates since 2001. That membership signals an ongoing interest in consumer-related practice and in staying connected to peers who handle similar issues. He has relied on continuing legal education and professional networks to keep current on evolving case law and procedural developments.
Colleagues describe Petersen as methodical in preparing records for trial and concise in appellate briefing. He favors clarity in written work and steadiness in oral argument. Over a multi-decade career he has navigated complex filings and has managed client expectations through uncertain litigation timelines.
Today Petersen maintains an active litigation practice in both state and federal courts and centers his work on consumer advocacy and related commercial litigation matters.
